Johnny Tillotson, the country and pop music star known for hits like Poetry in Motion, has passed away at the age of 86.
His wife, Nancy Tillotson, announced his death on Wednesday in an emotional Facebook post.
“It is with a broken heart that I write to let you know that the sweetest, kindest man I ever met, Johnny Tillotson, left earth for Heaven yesterday,” she wrote. “He was my best beloved, Champion of my realm, Knight of my heart. Someone said that sometimes, right in the middle of an ordinary life, you get a fairy tale. The day I met him, I got mine.”
She described Tillotson as “funny, generous, and kind” and expressed gratitude for his connection with fans. “He loved and was grateful to his fans,” she wrote. “As he once said, they made every dream he ever had come true. On his behalf, I say thank you.”
Nancy Tillotson highlighted his remarkable career, calling his life “marked by extraordinary achievements in the world of music.”
“As a 1960s teen idol, he captured the hearts of fans worldwide with Poetry in Motion,” she wrote. “This song, among others, topped charts around the world. His songwriting talent shined in It Keeps Right On a Hurtin’, a song recorded by over 112 artists, including Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Conway Twitty, and Bobby Darin.”
She noted that Tillotson recorded multiple albums and sold tens of millions of records worldwide. He was also a two-time Grammy nominee, a recognition of his talent and impact on the music industry.
Nancy Tillotson ended her tribute with a heartfelt message. “Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life,” she wrote. “He was simply the best.”
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